CRESTVIEW — St. Mark United Methodist Church has additional funding for student ministries following its annual pumpkin patch benefit, volunteers said.

Area students visited the patch throughout October. Like in previous years, the church ordered pumpkins from a Native American reservation in New Mexico. 

Volunteers haven't tallied their collections, but said they initially received donations for 15,000 pumpkins.

In addition to selling pumpkins, the church facilitated games, story time and crafts.

"We have had all of the kindergarteners in this area (visit us)," volunteer Amy Valle said. "The teachers love it because we only (charged) $5 for their students."

Several parents, including Quanisha Patrick, the Riverside Elementary School PTO’s community involvement coordinator, chaperoned.

Patrick, who visited the patch with her 5-year-old daughter, Rielle, said the trip marked a first for her.

"(I’d) never been to a pumpkin patch,” she said, adding that she appreciated that “the church loves the community enough to do something like this.”

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: St. Mark’s pumpkin sales support student ministries

CRESTVIEW — Few Okaloosa residents share bragging rights for having the best Halloween costumes this year, according to judges in the Main Street Crestview Association and city’s 24th Annual Fall Festival.

Costume contest winners, by category, are as follows: Piper Smith, “Poodle Dog,” Age 0-23 months; Mia Ocasio, “Indian Girl,” 2-3 years; Camdon Godwin, “Harry Potter,” 4-5 years; Ernest Anger, “The Rocket,” 6-8 years; Aniston Woolf, “Breaking Amish,” 9-11 years; Hayden Boston, “Uncle Cy from Duck Dynasty,” 12-17 years; and the Doss family, “Scooby Doo gang,” 18 and up.

More than 10,000 people visited Main Street Oct. 26 to see the costume contest, play games, participate in the skillet toss and a pet parade and enjoy food.

“Thank you to the Crestview community for supporting the Main Street Crestview Association Fall Festival. This proved to be the most successful fall event (for Crestview) yet,” Main Street Crestview President Ellis Conner and the promotions committee said in a statement.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Main Street Crestview members reflect on ‘most successful’ fall festival

CRESTVIEW —The FamiliesFirst Network of Lakeview invites area motorcycle enthusiasts to participate Sunday in the 15th Annual Toys For Kids Motorcycle Run.

Motorcyclists will meet at the Crestview Wal-Mart parking lot, where they can go inside and purchase an unwrapped toy.

Shortly after registration, participants will leave for a scenic route of Crestview, ending at the Crestview Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5450 on James Lee Boulevard.

VFW members will provide lunch to participants, who can win raffle prizes donated from local businesses.

FamiliesFirst works with the Department of Children and Families to assist with the foster care system.

Many of the donations assist foster parents who struggle to provide a Christmas for children in their care, Mary Culbertson, a family services counselor, said.

"This takes the burden off them; it allows them to worry about taking care of the other necessities," she said.

There is one goal for the event: “make sure (foster children) have a great Christmas," organizer Ken Payne said.

Funds raised from the raffle go toward the purchase of items not donated. Last year's raffle raised more than $5,000, Culbertson said.

''We could not pull this off without the community's sponsorship," she said.

WANT TO G0?

WHAT: The FamiliesFirst Network of Lakeview’s 15th Annual Toys For Kids Motorcycle Run

WHEN: Registration is 9:30-11 a.m. Sunday

WHERE:  The motorcycle run begins at the Crestview Wal-Mart parking lot, 3351 S. Ferdon Blvd. The run will finish at the Crestview VFW Post 5450, 2240 W. James Lee Blvd.  

COST: $10 donation and a new unwrapped toy

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 15th Annual Toys For Kids Motorcycle Run coming Sunday

BAKER — Flying cypress chips, bluegrass music and the aroma of fresh pork cracklins and boiled peanuts will fill the air Saturday at the Baker Block Museum and Heritage Park.

The museum's Heritage Day is an annual celebration of Northwest Florida traditions, with demonstrations and displays of crafts, history exhibits, folk music performances and lots of food.

As the festival's popularity grows, more and more groups ask to participate, Museum Director Ann Spann said.

"We have a full park this year," she said. "All our booth space is taken."

Vendors, exhibitors and historic societies fill the park's open areas around historic buildings including an old post office, "dog-trot" house, timber company store and an outhouse.

Historic re-enactors demonstrate blacksmithing, cypress shingle making, soap making, butter churning and quilting.

Vintage, lovingly restored Model T and Model A Ford vehicles will be displayed in front of the museum, which will be open during the festival, Spann said.

History to take home

For the second year, the heritage association will sell its "Lost North Okaloosa Calendar," featuring vintage photos of lost landmarks including schools, churches and stores.

Both volumes of "The Heritage of Okaloosa County" and other local history and heritage books will be available.

Local produce and baked goods will be for sale. Activities include colonial games, pony rides and a petting zoo, Spann said. Live music includes local gospel, folk, bluegrass and country artists.

Regional American Indian groups will share their tribes' traditions. History booths also include representatives from Laurel Hill and the Walton County Heritage Society.

Historians and archeologists will staff two archeology booths to address attendees’ questions, Spann said.

"People can bring artifacts and have them identified," she said.

The annual festival draws attendees and participants from throughout Okaloosa, Walton and Santa Rosa counties, as well as Alabama.

"People come from all directions for the Heritage Day," Spann said.

Want to go?

WHAT:Baker Heritage Day Festival, sponsored by the Northwest Florida Heritage Association

WHEN:9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 2

WHERE: Baker Block Museum and Heritage Park, State Roads 4 and 189, Baker

COST: Free admission

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Saturday's Baker Heritage Day offers food, music and history demos

BAKER — More than 200 well-wishers celebrated resident Mary Richardson’s 100th birthday on Saturday at the Baker Arena pavilion.

Many friends from Mary's church, PilgrimsRest Baptist Church, the Baker community and other Northwest Florida areas came to express their love for her.

Among attendees were Mary's son, Jim, from Tennessee, and grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren from Georgia, Colorado, Florida and California. 

Lauren Belcher, a long-time friend, drove up just for the day from Live Oak. The Rev.Jerry Haley and Joyce, Mary's former pastor and his wife, came from northern Alabama. 

“Grandma has a terrific sense of humor,” Mary’s daughter-in-law, Mary J. Richardson, said.

"She quipped, 'I've been dragging my feet so 100 wouldn't get here so soon … and all I did was wear out my shoes!'" she said. 

Mary’s son, John, and his wife Mary J. Richardson, granddaughters Michelle Richardson and Jennifer Hagler, and Hagler’s husband, Jon, hosted the event.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: SPECIAL OCCASIONS: Baker resident celebrates 100th birthday

CRESTVIEW — For music lovers who like some songs with their breakfast, the Crestview High School chorus presents its annual pancake breakfast Saturday morning.

Proceeds from sales of flapjacks, sausage, coffee and juice benefit the chorus' travel fund for its spring performance in Nashville, Tenn., and other expenses.

Beginning with Destiny at 7:30 a.m. and continuing throughout the morning, breakfasters will be serenaded by the chorus' various choirs.

Chanticleer, the elite mixed show choir, performs at 8 a.m., followed by the Women's Choir at 8:30 a.m., mixed Chorale at 9 a.m. and the Men's Choir at 9:30 a.m.

Call 689-7328 for more details.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: Pancake Breakfast to benefit the Crestview High School Chorus

WHEN: 7-10 a.m. Saturday

WHERE:Crestview High School multipurpose room

COST: $6 adult, $3 children.

Contact News Bulletin Arts & Entertainment Editor Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview High School Chorus pancake breakfast is Saturday

Hi, Hoboes! First, I apologize for this column's absence last Saturday. I was experiencing some technical difficulties and couldn’t email it. But those issues are now resolved.

Anyway, I trust everyone has been enjoying our cooler temperatures and bright, clear skies!

Fall Festival recap

The long awaited "A Day in the Country Life” Fall Festival had a few glitches but was a wonderful, sunny occasion.

Due to military cutbacks and closures, the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)’s Green Beretscouldn’t participate in the opening ceremony as planned. And Pegasus, the famed miniature horse from Safe Haven Horse Rescue Center, attempted to leave the festival early, resulting in about 20 residents successfully subduing the stallion.

My booth with desserts, clothing, and arts and crafts didn't do so well due, I think, to where I set it up. However, we enjoyed the weather, music and other booths.

School happenings

Laurel Hill School report cards should go home on Tuesday. The second grading period has begun, and tutoring for LHS students — with parents’ approval — is available every Tuesday and Thursday, except early-release day, until April. Sessions start immediately after school and wrap up around 3:45 p.m.

•••

Tuesday, pre-K, kindergarten and first-grade students threw a "fall blast" on school grounds instead of going on the originally planned trip to a pumpkin patch. We Bounce provided bounce castles for the occasion. Thanks to them! 

Meanwhile, second-graders ventured out to the Baker Corn Maze, and our itty-bitty Hoboes from Head Start went to the pumpkin patch at Oliver's Nursery in Holt. There, Head Start participants picked pumpkins, had their faces painted and enjoyed other activities.

Finally, you have until Nov. 22 to buy fruit to support the Hobo athletic department! Let’s support our Hoboes!

Amber Kelley lives in Laurel Hill. Send news or comments to Hobo.homefront@gmail.com or P.O. Box 163 Laurel Hill, FL, 32567.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: THE HOBO HOMEFRONT: Fall Festival in review, school happenings